Improved compositoin for roofing



ment.

.pulverized clay, or even dry dirt of any kind,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- ALONZO T. BOON, OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TQ HIMSELF AND JOSEPH STAFFORD, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED CQMPOSITOIN FOR ROOFING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 62,810, dated March 12, 1867. I

To' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO T. BooN, of the city of Galesburg, Knox county, State of Illinois, have invented a Composition for Roofing; and I do hereby declare the following description is sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention Without further invention or experi- My invention has reference to the use of molasses or sorghum, or other saccharine matter, in combination with coal-tar and the silicate of alumina. I do not propose to limit myself to the silicate of alumina in the composition thus formed for roofing, as I find from experiment that ashes, or ashes and lime, or

will answer as Well; therefore, my invention has further reference to the use of the molasses in combination with the tar and either of the articles above last mentioned.

It will be found that in manyinstances most of the composition in use, after being awhile on the roof, becomes brittle from its getting too hard, and-hence cracks 011 the least sagging down of the roof, or from the alternate shrinking and swelling of the sheathing from the eifect of sun-heat and wetweather. It of course follows, when this is the case, that the rain very soon penetrates the cracks, and consequentlyleakage of the roof is the result. Now, to remedy this, I find that molasses possesses a virtue of softness and elasticity that will counteract the tendency of the material to an undue hardness, and thus enable the composition to adapt itself to any irregularities of the roof, caused by the elements or other causes, without being liable to the defects in the manner herein indicated.

It is believed, in the selection of molasses or sorghum, that it is the only substance that will absorb the moisture from the atmosphere, and hence prevent the composition from drying up, and thus getting hard and brittle, which cause, from the trouble and annoyance it eventually occasions in constant repairing, &c., has prejudiced the minds of a great many against the use of this kind of roofing at all. I think it will therefore be found that the use of molasses will correct this.

In the mixture, Iuse from two to six gallons of molasses to one barrel of coal-tar, and add the silicate of alumina, or either of the articles hereinbefore mentioned, until the consistency of plastering or mortar is reached, when it is 1 prepared and applied as ordinarily.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The composition for roofing compounded from the vingredients specified, substantially as herein set forth.

O. F. PRICE, JNO. G. STEWART. 

